Machine for twisting stranded forms



Nov. 25, 1924. 7 1,516,900

G. F. WRIGHT ET AL MACHINE FOR TWISTING STRANDED FORMS Filed June 4 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l .fmmra Tons George I'figg z Elbert S; Knapp mar-7153' G. F. WRIGHT ET AL MACHINE FOR TWISTING STRANDED FORMS Filed June 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7'2 05 2 r-ge .FTJZFgghT fllberb' S, K pp amen-" of an-improved machine that is capable of.

Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. WEIGHT AND ALBERT S. KNAPP, O33 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

SIG-NORS TO G. F. WRIGHT STEEL & WIRE COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR TWISTING STRANDED FORMS.

Application filed June 4, 1923. Serial No. 643,336.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. VVnrer-rr and ALBERT S. KNArP, both citizens of the United States, residing at lVorcester, in the county of 'VVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Machine for Twisting Stranded Forms, of which the fol lowing, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines for twisting stranded forms, and has for its object to provide a machine'of the abovedescribed character that is more effective in operation and is adapted for a higher rate of production than machines of the same type, as heretofore constructed.

1 Our invention contemplates the provision imparting more than one twist to a number of strands for each complete revolution of a rotatable flier. The flier is adapted to revolve about a cradle carrying the supply reels, and the flier, by its revolution, twists the strands at each. end of the machine, in

s which respect our improved machine differs radically from prior. machines capable of imparting only a single twist to the strands for each revolution of the flier.

The above, and other advantageous features of our invention will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a stranding machine embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a plan-view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3' is an enlarged transverse sectional view along the line 3-3, of Fig. 1,

. looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of a portion of the parts shown in Fig.1. 1

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale. 1

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawings, the machine generally comprises a'base 1 upon which is rotatably mounted a flier, generally designated at 2. The flier 2 consists of spaced driven from a: suitable source of power. not

shown. The heads 3 and 4 are provided with annular flanges 12 and 13 respectively, which are peripherally supported by rolls 14 carried by yokes 15 arching over each head, as best shown in Fig. 3, the rolls 14 serving to relieve the bearings 8 and 9 of strain when the flier is rotated at high speeds.

As best showin in Fig. 1. a cradle 16,

carrying a plurality of reels 17, is freely" supported between the heads 3 and 4, so that the flier 2 is adapted to revolve about the cradle 16. As best shown in Fig. 4, one end of the cradle 16 is provided with a ring 18 which surrounds afreduced portion 19 of the hub 4 of the head 4, and an anti-friction bearing 20 is interposed between the ring 18 and the hub portion 19. The other end of the cradle 16 is provided with a ring 21 which is mounted on the hub of the head 3 in the same manner as the ring 18, so that the cradle 16 is swung between the rotating heads 3 and 4, with a substantial elimination of friction therebetween. The com bined weight of the cradle 16 and the reels 17 is such as to normally cause the cradle to remain stationary between the heads. as shown in the drawings, but it is obvious that since the cradle 16 is supported at its ends in ball bearings, it is free to turn slightly about the'axis of the flier in response to vibrations setup during the operation of the machine.

The longitudinal side members of the cradle 16 are inclined from the horizontal, so that the respective axes of rotation of the reels 17 are 'difl'erent distances from the rotational axis of the flier 2; consequently, the several strands 22 of wire are adapted to pass without interference with each other from the reels 17 to a twisting guide 23. As best shown in Fig. 5, the guide 23 is mounted on a bracket 24 carried by the cradle 16, and is provided with a plurality of holes 25) arranged concentrically about the axis of the flier. The strands 22 pass through the holes 25, and from thence converge to a nose 26 carried by the rotating head 4.

The nose 26 is received in a longitudinal passage 27 provided in the hub portion 19 of the head 4, and is provided with a central opening 28 just large enough to receive the several strands 22 from the reels 17. The passage 27 extends longitudinally through the hub 4*, and communicates with a space 29 provided inside the hub. The hub 4 is provided with lugs 30 on opposite sides of the space 29, between which is mounted a pulley 31. The pulley 31 extends into the space 29 so that the strands 22 passing through the passage 27 will engage the periphery of the pulley 31 tangentially. A second pulley 32 is rotatably supported between arms 32 projecting radiall from the hub 4 with itsweb lying in su stantially the same plane as that of the pulley 31.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the groove of the pulley 32 is substantially in .alinement with the groove of a pulley 33, rotatably supported between arms 34 extending radially from the hub 3 of the head 3, and the pulley 33 lies in the same plane with a pulley 35 also carried by the head3. The pulley 35 is rotatably supported between lugs 36 provided on the hub 3 and extends into a space 37 within the hub 3?, communicating with a passage 38, extending longitudinally through the shaft portion 6 of the head 3. The passage 38 terminates adjacent to a plurality of rolls 39, adapted to turn about vertical axes oflset with respect to each other, and carried by a suitable pedestal 40 extending upwardly from the base 1. v The twisted strand cable is adapted to pass between the rolls 39 as it emerges from the passage 38, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, from which it passes to a set of drawing out reels 41 of any suitable form. The reels 41 are adapted to be driven from the head 3 through'spur gearing 42, a shaft 43 and bevel gearing 44, to draw the cable or rope from themachine at the proper speed.

There is provided also a brake mechanism for the flier, shown in Fig. 3, which consists of a brake strap 45 held by stationary lug 46, lever 47, pivoted at 48 and operated by hand lever 49 through link 50. 7

Having thus described the various parts entering into our invention, the operation thereof is as follows :In order to start the machine in operation, theseveral strands 22 a re first led from the reels 17 through the gulde 23 into the passage 27, and from thence over thepulleys 31 and '32. The flier is then given a-turn, and the revolution of the pulleys 31 and 32 about the axis of the flier, will cause the several strands 22 to be twisted,

inasmuch as the strands are held stationary by the guide 23. The twisted strands 22 are then led to the other end of the flier over the pulley 33 and under the pulley 35, from which they are passed through the passage 38 between the rolls 39 after which the end or" the cable is secured to one of the reels 41. -The flier 2 is then driven by means of the belt 11, which causes the reels 41 to also be driven and draw the completed cable thereon from the flier. As previously stated, revolution of the pulleys 31 and 32 about the axis of the flier is adapted to impart an initial twist to the strands 22, and as the pulleys 33 and 35 also revolve about the axis, an additional twistis imparted to the previously twisted strands coming from the pulleys 31 and 32. This is due to the "fact that the strands are held from'turningby the rolls 39, although it is to 'be understood that the machine will operate just as effectively without the rolls 39 inwhich case the second twist will occur between the pulley 35 and the reel 41 to which the strandsfpass' fromthe pulley 35. The function of the rolls 39 is to set the twisted strands so that the cable will lay flat. It has been found that the rolls 39 may be dispensed with whenusing material which is easily set.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by our invention, we have provided an improved machine ;for twisting stranded forms, which is adapted to impart more than one twist to the strands of a cable, orrope, for each complete revolution of the flier, thereby differing radically from'pri'or machines which are capable of imparting only 'a single twist to thestrands'for eachrevolution of the flier. Our improved machine is adapted for a higher rate of production, as compared to prior machines, owing to'the fact that for a given speed of rotation of the flier and a given pitch of the twisted strands, cable or rope can be drawn from our machine at least, or more than, twice as fast as from a machine capable of imparting but a single twist to the strands for each complete revolution of the flier.

We claim, 1

1. In a machine of the class described, a flier rotatable on a horizontal axis, acra-dle carrying a plurality of reels for supplying strands of flexible material to said flier, said cradle hanging freely within said flier on pivots located on the axis of said flier, and means for'rotating said flier relatively to the said cradle whereby a twist is imparted to the strands at each end of said flier.

2. In a machine of the class described, a

cradle carrying a plurality of supply reels, said cradle swinging freely between pivots on a horizontal axis, a flier rotatable with respect tosaid cradle, and means for leadin flexible strands from said reels through said flier whereby rotation of the said flier is, adapted to impart a double 'twist to' said strands at each revolution of said flier.

3. In a machine of the class described, a cradle carrying a plurality of supply reels, said cradle swinging freely between pivots on a horizontal axis, a flier rotatable on said axis around said cradle, means for leading flexible strands from said reels to one end of said flier, and other means for holding the said strands at the other end of said flier, whereby rotation of the flier is adapted to impart more than one twist of the strands for each revolution of said flier.

4:. In a machine of the class described, a horizontal rotatable flier, an unbalanced reel carrying cradle pivotally mounted on the axis thereof, means for conducting strands from said cradle through both ends of the axis of said flier in succession, thereby imparting a double twist to said strands, and exterior winding mechanism for drawing oflf and winding said strands.

5, In a machine of the class described, a rotating flier, an unbalanced non-rotating cradle carrying reels with strands, said cradle being mounted pivotally on the axis of said flier, winding mechanism exterior to said flier, and guiding mechanism in conjunction with said flier whereby one revolution of said flier produces two twists of said strands as Wound.

6. In a machine of the class described, a stationary cradle carrying reels of strands and freely suspended on pivotal axes, a collecting point for the strands at one of said axes and a flier arm rotating about said axes carrying said strands and giving same a double twist.

Dated this 31st day of May, 1923.

GEORGE F. WVRIGHT. ALBERT S. KNAPP. 

